Semi-automatic repeating rocket launcher



April 2, 1957 S. A. STAM SEMI-AUTOMATIC REPEATING ROCKET LAUNCHER Filed0d. 5, 195:5

I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 )NVENTOR. 513E Phen A5 c am ATTURN 5Y5 April 2, 1957s. A. STAM SEMI-AUTOMATIC REPEATING ROCKET LAUNCHER Filed 001.. 5; 19533 Sheets-Sheet 2 III 1/ 1/ INVENTOR. tE- 'hE'I-L A- Siam 4/ .RTTURNEYS.

April 2, 1957 s. A. STAM SEMI-AUTOMATIC REPEATING ROCKET LAUNCHER FiledOct. 5, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. 5 1: EFIhEflA.5 lIaTFL.ATTUHNEYS.

United SEMI-AUTOMATIC REPEATINGRO'CKETP- j LAUNCHER Stephen A. Stam,Glendale, Califl, assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United Statesof America as represented by the Secretary of the'Army ,1,

Application October 5, 1953 Serial No. 384,360 9 Claims. (Cl. 89-1.7)

This invention relates to rocketjlaunichersa and more particularly to asemi-automatic repeating type of launcher similar to the one disclosedin a copending application, Serial Number 210,026, filed February8,1951, now U. S. Patent No. 2,774,282, by Andrew Ballash etaL, and isan improvement over the launcher theredisclosed.

An object of the invention is to, provide loading means for a launcherof the above mentioned type which may be operated from either side ofthe launcher by separate end semi-cylindrical firing chamber havingdoors in'its side wall which are opened to receive, :andclo sedtoembrace a rocket from a magazine by oscillation of either of the aforesaidlevers and their drive shafts.

A further object of the invention is to provide a launcher having afiring chamber therein, an opening in said firing chamber for admittinga rocket from a "m'agazine, a closure for said opening andinterconnected means on each side of the launcher whereby'the'said'elosure may be controlled to feed a rocket into the firing chambe'rfrom either side of the launcher. 1 p Another object of the invention istopro'vide'means for quickly removing the firing chambergass'emblyforlcon venient servicing or maintenance,*without tl'ieuse fspecialtools and without the incur-r'ence ofany loose parts. Other objects andadvantages will be apparent froma study of the following specificationin connectioihw ith the accompanying drawings. i

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation ofthe launcherlreinovedj from itssupporting tripod. Figure 2 is a transverse sectional line 2-2 of Figurel.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal longitudinal sectional view to anenlarged scale on the line 3- 3; of Figure 2.

view taken on the Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse. sectional viewto a still larger scale on the line of 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the forward part ofthe launcher, taken from the side opposite to Figure 1. h

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view of the clutch membet and partsassociated with the first loading lever, the lever being shown inposition dis-connected fromits shaft..

Figure 7 is an enlarged detail view of the gear means for connecting thefirst and second 'shafts.

Figure 8 is an enlarged'perspectiv vi retainer.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view ofgthe' re 1 en launcher with partsbroken' away toiil detachablerear end cover, and

i adapter 4. Near its rear end the shaft 25 is enlarged axial movementof the sleeve, when it is desired to load the launcher from the leftside thereof.

Figure 10 is a rear end view of the launcher showing the quickdetachable means. r

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 identifies generally'a main body or housing having a rectangular opening 2 in its top forthe reception of a removable magazine 3 adapted to contain a pluralityof rockets in horizontal stacked relation. The forward end of body 1 isfianged, as 'at 1a, and has an adapter 4 similarly flanged at 4a. Bolts5 secure the body and adapter together. The rear end of the housing issimilarly flanged at 1b, to which T'the flange 8a of a rear adapter orbearing support 8 is secured by means which Willhereinaftter be morefully explained.

Antifriction bearings, not shown, housed within the adapters 4 and 8rotatably receive the forward and rearward ends, respectively, ofa-firing chamber generally indicated at 7 in Figure 4.

-A main barrel portion 11 is secured by any conventional thread, notshown, to the forward end of adapter 4. A rear barrel portion 12 issecured to the adapter 8 by means of bolts 9, as clearly shown uponFigures 1 and 9. The'forward or main barrel 11, the rear barrel portion12 and the firing chamber 7 have axis 13 in common.

The firing chamber 7 consists of a main semi-cylindrical portion 14,having front and rear "sleeves rotatable within the aforesaidantifriction bearings of the front and rear adapters respectively. Asshown in Figures 3 and 4, spaced aligned lugs 15 are formedalong bothlongitudinal edges; and form port-ionsof continuous or piano typehinges. A left door or quarter-cylindrical portion 18 has hinge lugsint'erfitting with those along the edge of semicylindrical portion 14for pivotal connection by a hinge pin 19 Figure 4.- In a similarmanner-ya right door or quarter-cylindrical portion 20 is hingedlyconnected by pin 21 with the other longitudinal edge of semi-cylindricalportion 14. 'These doors are therefore so shaped and related with part14 that when closed, the three elements form a complete cylindricalsubstantially gas-tight firing chamber.

'Manually operated means are provided to actuate the doors 18 and 20between open and closed position. As the present invention is connectedto the left door 18 only, further discussion of the right door 'isunnecessary except to state that the movement of both doors iscontrolled by cam slots, fully disclosed in the aforesaid applicationSerial No. 210,026, now U. S. Patent Number 2,774,282, while the firingchamber is being oscillated by the said manually operated means.

A bearing bracket 22 is secured to the left hand side of the'mainhousing1 adjacent an opening 23 therein.

A first shaft 25 is held in spaced relationship with the housing 1 'andis journaled at its rear end in the bearing bracket 22 and at itsforward end in a transverse bearing bracket 30 (Figure 2) formedintegral with the forward and formed with splines 31 which engageinternal splines 32 formed in a sleeve 33 slidable on the shaft 25,Figure 6. The sleeve 33 carries a first loading lever 24 and is adaptedto'move into engagement with the splines by The shaft 25 is reduced indiameter at its rear end and is splined as at 34" to engage the splinedopening in an arm 2411 which is pinned to a link 27 by a pivot pin 26,Figure 4. The link is formed with an elongated head 27a, Figure 3, ex-

' tending longitudinally of the launcher and terminating deems-by thepins 180. l, y 7 p V When .theloadingglever' fi is not in use it ispushed nrg o free its sleevebf the spline clutch on the. sli t25' aid isheldi'n' such position by a spring clip 35.

in ears 27b and pivoted to; lugs 18b on the left hand Fhtented Apr. 2,-1957- As previously explained, the forward end of shaft is journalled inthe bearing bracket 30. A flange 36, Figure 7, formed on the shaft 25lies within the bearing bracket and together with an arcuate retainer37, screw fastened to the bracket, restrains the shaft againstlongitudinal movement.

A second shaft 39, journalled for rotation in a cylindrical portion 40of the bracket and having its axis of rotation disposed at 90 to theaxis of rotation of the shaft 25, that is, transversely of the barrelaxis, is provided with a bevel gear 41 fixed thereto and intermeshingwith a bevel gear segment 38 fixed on the forward end of shaft 25 withinbracket 30. A removable cover plate 30a, Figure 1, gives access to thesegears.

Shaft 39 comprises a portion 39a and a portion 39b. See Figure 3. Aclutch member comprising interengaging parts 42 and 42a securedrespectively to the contiguous free ends of the shaft sections connectthe said shaft sections when desired. The shaft sections 39b has aflattened end 39c which is pivotally connected with the bifurcated endof a second loading lever 43 by a pivot pin 44, normal to the axis ofthe shaft. See Figure 2. The lever 43 has an eccentric lug 45 offsetfrom the pivot pin 44 and bearing against the end a of the cylindricalportion or sleeve 40 of the bearing bracket 30. The end of lug 45constitutes a fulcrum point whereby the shaft 391: and its connectedpart of the clutch 42 can be disengaged from the remaining part 42a ofthe clutch, when the lever 43 is swung in a plane containing the axis ofshaft 39]), into engagement with a resilient retaining clip 46, Figures2 and 5. A coil spring 47, housed within the transverse portion 40 ofbracket 30, surrounds shaft 39b and bears at one end against the clutchmember 42 and at its other end against the cylindrical member 40 whichis staked to the bracket by a pin 48. It will be seen by reference toFigures 2 and 3 that when lever 43 is moved into its clip 46 asindicated in dotted lines upon Figure 2, the lever will pivot on its lug45 and withdraw the shaft 39/) and its clutch part 42 outwardly fromengagement with clutch part 42a, against the urge of spring 47. Thelever 24 and its sleeve 33 can then be moved forwardly along the shaft25 to engage its splines 32 with the splines 31 on shaft 25. In reverseoperation the lever 24 is disengaged as hereinbefore stated and thelever 43 freed from its clip 46 and moved outwardly so that it can thenbe oscillated through the are A as seen in Figure 5, the spring 47having urged the clutch part 42 into engagement with its part 42a,consequently the shaft 25 will be oscillated by means of the meshinggears 38 and 41 to'thereby index a rocket into the firing chamber.

Four studs 50 are screwed into the rear end of the housing and arepositioned to align with four holes 51 in flange 8a. See Figure 9. Twolatches-52 are pivoted on the screws 53, threaded into flange 8aintermediate their ends for locking the rear adapter 4a in place. Theextreme ends of the latches are provided with notches defining hooks 54which engage and fit within grooves 55 in the respective studs 54). Pins56 are slidable in holes 57 in the adapter body and are urged outwardlya limited distance by springs 58 to snap behind latches 52 as the lattermove into the locking position shown upon Figure 9, to hold the latchesin contact with their studs 50. Normally the screws 53 are tightened,but when it is desired to remove the rear adapter it is only necessaryto loosen but not remove the screws 53, depress the pins 56 and thenpivot the latches 52 about their screws 53 until they are free of thestuds 50. The adapter can then be moved rearwardly to clear the studs.When returning the adaptor to position the procedure is reversed.

The firing chamber 7 comprising semicylindrical part 14 andquarter-cylindrical doors 18 and 20, is mounted for rotation in thelauncher frame by forward and rearward bearings, not shown. The rearwardbearing is carried by adapter 8. This chamber is thus held against axialmovement by adapter or bearing support 8. Thus, when this support isremoved as just described, by the pivoting of latches 52, the entirefiring chamber can be withdrawn axially and rearwardly after removal ofpivot pin 26. By this construction it is a relatively simple matter towithdraw the firing chamber for repairs, cleaning or inspection.Replacement is equally easy.

I have thus provided a loading mechanism for a launcher which is simple,eflicient and effects a very great saving in time if it becomesnecessary in an emergency for the gunner to take over loading thelauncher. Saving in time may also be accomplished by the gunner takingover loading while the loader is refilling the magazine 3.

While I have disclosed a form of the invention pres ently preferred byme, various changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in theart after a study of the present disclosure. Hence the disclosure is tobe taken in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense; and it is mydesire and intention to reserve all modifications falling within thescope of the subjoined claims.

Having now fully disclosed the invention, what I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a repeating rocket launcher, a support, a firing chamber assemblyjournaled in said support for rotation on a longitudinal axis, saidassembly having an opening in its side wall through which a rocket maybe gravity loaded into said assembly, said assembly including a doorhinged therein and pivotable between open and closed positions by and inresponse to rotation of said assembly about said axis a shaft journaledon said support parallel with said axis, an operating connection betweensaid shaft and assembly for rotating the assembly in response torotation of said shaft, first and second operating levers pivoted onsaid support at respective left and right sides thereof, and clutchmeans operable selectively to connect either of said levers with saidshaft.

2. In a rocket launcher, a housing; a firing chamber journaled forrotation on and within said housing and having an opening for loading arocket into said chamber, a door pivoted to the wall of said firingchamber and pivotable to open and close said opening; and door operatingmeans comprising a first shaft journaled on said housing at one sidethereof and parallel to the longitudinal axis of said firing chamber,link and lever means connecting said door and said first shaft, a firstloading lever, slidable on said first shaft, clutch means between saidfirst shaft and first lever responsive to sliding thereof, a sec ondshaft journaled on said housing transversely thereof normal to saidfirst shaft, gear means connecting both said shafts at their contiguousends, a second loading lever pivoted on said housing, at the side ofsaid housing opposite to said first shaft, and clutch means between saidsecond lever and second shaft whereby the second loading lever may beconnected to and disconnected from said second shaft and loading of saidlauncher effected from either side thereof, as desired.

3. In a repeating magazine-type rocket launcher, a supporting housing, afiring chamber assembly journalcd in said housing for rotation on anaxis longitudinally thereof, there being an opening in the side wall ofsaid assembly through which a rocket may be loaded thereinto, door meanshinged to said assembly and pivotable between open and closed positionsin response to rotation of said assembly, a first shaft journaled on oneside of said housing parallel with said axis, a first loading leverincluding a sleeve slidable on said first shaft between first and secondaxial positions, means connecting said sleeve and shaft in said firstposition only, a second shaft journaled on said housing transversely ofsaid axis, a second lever including a mounting journaled on said housingat the other side thereof in coaxial relation with said second shaft,gear means interconnecting said first and second shafts for synchronousrotation, pivot means supporting said second lever for movement about anaxis transverse to said second shaft, clutch means responsive tomovement of said lever on said supporting means to connect anddisconnect said mounting and second shaft, and means operating said doormeans in response to rotation of said first shaft.

4. In a repeating magazine-type launcher, a supporting housing, a firingchamber assembly journaled in said housing for rotation on alongitudinal axis, there being an opening in the side wall of saidassembly through which a rocket may be transversely loaded thereinto,door means hinged to said assembly and pivotable between open and closedpositions in response to rotation of said assembly, a first shaftjournaled on one side of said housing parallel with said axis, a firstloading lever including a sleeve slidable on said first shaft betweenfirst and second axial positions, spline means connecting said sleeveand first shaft in said first position only, a second shaft journaled onsaidhousing transversely of said axis and comprising first and secondaligned sections, means mounting the second section of said second shaftfor axial sliding relatively to said first section, a second loadinglever hinged to the free end of said second section at the side of saidhousing opposite said first lever and pivotable about an axis normal tosaid second shaft, separable clutch means interconnecting the sectionsof said second shaft in response to axial movement of said secondsection toward said first section, spring means urging said secondsection into clutch-engaging position, means between said second leverand housing moving said second section to clutch-disengaging position inresponse to hinged movement of said second lever from operable toinoperable position, and gear means interconnecting the adjacent ends ofsaid first shaft and the first section of said second shaft.

5. In a repeating rocket launcher, a housing having open front and rearends, a front end adapter supporting a front bearing and closing saidopen front end, a rear end adapter closing said open rear end andsupporting a rear bearing in coaxial alignment with said front bearing,a radially spaced stud secured in the rear face of said housingextending through said rear adapter and having a circumferential groovenear its outer end, a chamber journaled in said bearings and having anopening in its side wall through which a rocket may be gravity fed intosaid assembly, said assembly including a door hinged therein andpivotable between open and closed positions responsive to rotation ofsaid assembly about said axis, a manually rotatable lever journaled onsaid housing, manually disconnectable clutch means between said leverand assembly for rotating the assembly, latch means pivoted on said rearadapter and having a hook on its free end for engagement with thecircumferential groove on the said stud for securing the said rearadapter to the rear end of the housing, and a spring pressed plunger insaid rear adapter normally urged into the path of said latch to holdsaid latch and stud in locked position releasing said latch whendepressed.

6. In a repeating rocket launcher, a housing, a generally cylindricalfiring chamber journaled within said housing for rotation on its axisand comprising a semicylindrical tube portion and quartercylindricaldoors each hinged along one edge to a respective edge of said tubeportion, said doors being pivotable from a first position wherein saiddoors are closed to form with said tube portion a complete launchingtube open only at its ends, to a second position wherein said doors areopen to enable side loading of a rocket into said chamber, abutmentmeans limiting forward axial movement of said chamber relatively to saidhousing, a rear adapter adapted to be secured to the rearward end ofsaid housing to engage and prevent axial translation of said firingchamber, and means detachably securing said adapter to said housingwhereby on removal of the adapter the firing chamber can be axially andrearwardly withdrawn from the housing.

7. The construction recited in claim 6, said last-named means comprisingat least one pair of spaced pins secured to and extending rearwardlyfrom said housing and adapted to extend through respective apertures insaid adapter when the latter is in operative position on said housing,and a resilient lever pivoted intermediate its ends on said adapter saidends being slotted to fit channels in the ends of the respective pinswhen said lever is pivoted from an adapter-release position to anadapter-attaching position.

8. In a rocket launcher, a housing, means forming a firing chamberjournaled in said housing for rotation about a longitudinal axis, saidmeans having an opening in its side wall for receiving a rockettherethrough, a door pivoted to said means along one edge of saidopening and adapted in one position to close said opening, a first shaftjournaled on said housing at one side thereof and parallel with saidaxis, a second shaft journaled on said housing in normally horizontaltransverse relation with said axis, bevel gears connecting contiguousends of said shaft, a first lever slidable on said first shaft betweenfirst and second positions thereon, a splined connection between saidfirst lever and first shaft effective in said second position only, asecond lever on said second shaft, and a manually disconnectablecoupling between said second lever and second shaft.

9. In a repeating rocket launcher, a housing, means forming a closedfiring chamber within said housing and having an opening in its sidewall through which a rocket may be transversely loaded into saidchamber, a door hinged to the outer wall of said means and pivotablefrom an open position wherein a rocket may be loaded into said chamber,to a closed firing position with respect to said opening, first andsecond manually-actuatable door-operating levers journaled on saidhousing on opposite sides thereof, respectively, mechanism connectedwith said door to operate the same between open and closed positions,and clutch means associated with said levers and manually actuatable toconnect and disconnect each said lever with said mechanism whereby saiddoor may be operated from a selected side of said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,371,075 Dawson et al. Mar. 8, 1921 1,394,490 Giles Oct. 18, 19212,440,634 Henney Apr. 27, 1948 2,451,522 Uhl et a1. Oct. 19, 19482,458,476 Lauritsen et a1. Jan. 4, 1949 2,504,160 Skinner Apr. 18, 19502,546,823 Holloway Mar. 27, 1951

